HONDURAS HOSTS CONCACAF ACCESS EXPERIENCE FOR THE FIRST TIME
New York, August 30, 2023, — Tegucigalpa, Honduras- With the participation of renowned personalities from the international football arena, including Philippe Moggio, General Secretary of Concacaf, and sports journalists Fernando Palomo, Carmen Boquín, and Andrés Agulla, “Concacaf Access” was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. This exclusive event aims to provoke discourse regarding the development of football, one of the most popular sports in the country.
In its first two editions, Concacaf Access was held in Costa Rica and Guatemala, respectively, and on this occasion, Honduras was chosen to host what is fast becoming a key event for the football industry in Central America. The forum highlighted important opportunities in Honduran and Central American football, as the region seeks to take advantage of an exciting period of national team and club football in Concacaf and beyond in the next three years.
With expert speakers providing their experience and knowledge in current events impacting football in Honduras, Concacaf Access showcased five key topics: development of women’s football in Honduras, media and new audiences, sport as a bridge between the brand and its consumers (beyond the 90 minutes), local leagues and expansion of Concacaf international tournaments and the opportunity and challenge of qualification into the FIFA World Cup 2026.
“Concacaf Access is a collaboration of media and stakeholders that allows us to discuss the reality of football in Central America, with important perspectives from federations, leagues, clubs, and sponsors. We all share the objective of working to grow football and to strengthen the level of play in the region through new projects, programs, and competitions in Concacaf,” said Philippe Moggio, Concacaf General Secretary.
“We are extremely grateful to Honduran Football Federation President Jorge Salomon and his team for supporting this event”, added Moggio.
In Honduras, Concacaf Access benefitted from the participation of special guests from the country’s football ecosystem, and media from several outlets across Honduras. Several 20 minute panel discussions covering key topics impacting the sport were discussed by experts.
Concacaf Access, an experience beyond the pitch
What was once seen as an exclusive sport for men now celebrates women’s football and the recognition of great female footballers who work and strive to excel and occupy an important place in history.
With inclusivity in the sport and the evolution of women’s football a focal point of the discussion, the first segment of Concacaf Access looked at the creation of the National Women’s Soccer League in Honduras, as well as an Under-20 league and the role of women for Concacaf, among other points presented by Jorge Salomón and Helga Chávez, President and Director of Women’s Soccer of the Honduran Soccer Federation, respectively.
Media plays a vital role in the growth and consumption of the sport, and engagement with brands is vital to attracting new audiences. In these panels, Fernando Palomo, Carmen Boquín, and Andrés Agulla, from their experience as sports journalists, led the discussions around the role of the media and the most effective platforms for reaching fans. Engaging content strategies and the role of brands were also discussed.
“Every time we develop Concacaf Access in a country, we seek to create a specialized space to involve all the actors that, in one way or another, have an influence on the development of soccer in Central America and the Caribbean. We create a bridge between federations, leagues, clubs, associations, the media, and sponsors to propose new actions that benefit the sports industry in our countries. Honduras is a country with a very important soccer tradition in the region, and that today it is the center is a source of pride for us”, comments Rodolfo Travers, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Cracks Sports.
The final panels included the participation of national football figures: Eduardo Atala and Elías Burbara, presidents of the Motagua and Real España clubs, respectively, as well as the coach of the Honduran national team, Reinaldo Rued, and Jorge Salomón, as president of the Federation. Together, they discussed upcoming commitments, such as the Central American Club Cup, qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the advantages of the national team, which does not have the same resources as North American teams, before a qualifier.
Football will continue to evolve and grow, and there will always be a need for innovation. Concacaf Access is committed to creating a platform to address these fundamental needs and, most importantly, identifying new opportunities that foster collaboration and excellence across the region.
